Airbend is a new MTG keyword action, introduced with Avatar: The Last Airbender set. Today, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know about it, including:
- How does airbend work in MTG?
- Can you airbend your own creature?
- And more!
There’s quite a lot to talk about, so why don’t we get right to it.
How Does Airbending Work?
A card can instruct you to airbend a permanent, which means you exile it. However, as long as it remains exiled, its owner can cast it by paying two generic mana. (Instead of its regular cost.)
So, this can be used to remove an opponent’s creature for a while. They can recast it, but that will cost them a couple of mana. Additionally, you could also target your own stuff — to retrigger its enters effect or for some other synergies.
There are a lot of options with airbending, so let’s take a look at a few examples to see how these work in practice.
Examples
First up, here’s Aang, Airbending Master, a five mana 4/4 mythic from Jumpstart boosters. (Details about Avatar Jumpstart contents are here.)
When it enters, you airbend another target creature. Perhaps you need to remove a blocker for a turn — in that case you target your opponent’s creature. It’s gone, and your opponent will need to pay two mana to recast it. (On their own turn, unless the creature has flash.)
However, you could also airbend your own creature. In that case, you’d be the one who can recast it for a couple of mana. This would also trigger Aang’s second ability, which is another benefit for doing so.
Another card with airbend is Appa, Steadfast Guardian.
This one only airbends your nonland permanents. But with flash, it’s a pretty great way to protect your stuff from mass removal. Even though you need to pay two mana to cast your permanents again, that’s better than just losing them.
MTG Airbend – FAQ
So, now you know the basics of airbending. However, there are plenty of potentially confusing scenarios with it. The following answers can help clear things up. If you still won’t find the explanation for your question, leave it in the comments below, and we’ll get back to you.
The token ceases to exist. It can’t be recast.
The land will remain in exile, and its owner won’t be able to replay it. Airbending allows you to cast the card for two mana, but lands aren’t cast — they are played.
No, the only way to recast an airbent permanent from exile is by paying the two generic mana.
It’s mana of any one color or even colorless mana.
Yes, it does.
When you cast an airbent spell with mandatory additional costs, you need to pay those in addition to the two generic mana. Let’s say your opponent used airbend on your Benevolent River Spirit. In order to recast it, you need to pay 2 generic mana and waterbend 5.
On the other hand, if the spell has optional additional cost such as kicker, you can decide whether or not to pay for them.
No, you can’t. Casting an airbent spell is already an alternative cost and you can’t use multiple alternative casting costs.
Conclusion
That’s all about airbend rules. Hopefully, this article cleared things up, so you’ll be able to really benefit form this mechanic.
Also, if you like the airbending cards and want to open some, you can order an Avatar Play booster box on Amazon. With 30 boosters, that’s almost 400 cards set in the world of the Avatar.
Want to learn about other bending mechanics? Check our articles about waterbending, firebending and earthbending rules. Master all the elements!
Until next time, enjoy Magic and may your timely airbending put a stop to opponents’ plans.
Thanks !
Thank you for this clarification
how does airbend work with multiface cards can i cast the back of say a card like Norman Ozborn. And also with adventures or other cards that have a second casting of a instant/sorcery on the front face can i cast them for 2 mana.
You can cast the backside / adventure part for 2 mana.